DNA and the F.B.I.

May 5, 2015

To the Editor:

As “Junk Science at the F.B.I.” (editorial, April 27) noted, the fact that microscopic hair examiners at the agency gave erroneous testimony in 96 percent of the cases reviewed so far could result in more exonerations for crimes the convicted didn’t commit.

This is a pretty safe bet when you consider that faulty microscopic hair analysis was a contributing factor in 22 percent of the 329 DNA exonerations nationwide.

While many of these examiners worked for state crime labs, many probably received their training from the F.B.I. While the agency should be commended for agreeing to an independent investigation into how this happened and why it was allowed to go on for so long, it’s worth stressing that everyone suffers when the wrong people are convicted of crimes and the real perpetrators remain free to commit other violent crimes, which, we also know from the DNA exonerations, occurs with alarming frequency.